In the spring of 2001, on the conference room on the second floor of Briggs at Graceland University, I gave what I consider my first sermon. It was for a class I was taking with three others. That summer I gave a sermon to a full house at the Nauvoo Community of Christ congregation. After that, I didn’t give another sermon until summer 2003. That summer I gave my first sermon in Salem, the congregation in which I have spoken the most.
Last year (2004), I gave six, “sermons,” in three different congregations, in two different mission centers, in three different states. I started the year off my giving the first sermon of the year and I ended the year by giving the first sermon of December. Three of the six sermons were on the first Sunday of the month. Along with these sermons, I also spoke in various other capacities, giving prayers, Disciples Generous Response… I also planed and gave a spiritual formation tour of the Kirtland portion of the Temple, which concluded in the serving of the Lord’s Supper. I also planed and presided over another service of spiritual formation at the Kirtland Temple during that weekend. At the end of the year, I planed and presided over a Christmas Eve Service. Then there was this year, which do to my health, went a bit differently. I remember only giving one sermon, and was on the schedule for another, but had to make arrangements for someone else to speak that day do to my health. I was unable to go back to Ohio do to my health, and since I have been back in Oregon trying to allow myself to recover, I have not shared during a service in a vocal way. (Except for my not so great singing when everyone else is signing also and can’t here me 
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In all of this time, I have never spoken at one of my home congregations, TCC. It is the congregation that I am frequenting the most right now, as it is my parent’s home and we have but one car that is fully functional at this time. That though may change in the first couple of months next year. Yesterday as people were, leaving the sanctuary Herald came over to me and asked if I might be willing to speak sometime. They are in the process of setting up the schedule for the first quarter of the year. Therefore, now when TCC is finally feeling right for me at this time, I may be starting to share in new ways there.
Peace to one and all,
— Lyle II